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Chapter 4: As the crow flies

Kallian hadn't been entirely successful at hiding from Teagan, he had recognized her, and cornered her after she left the tavern.  "Kallian, wait." He grabbed her by the arm before she could get away
"I just want to talk to you." He relaxed his grip, and let his hand fall.

" I know you do Teagan.  I just wish the circumstances were better…" Kallian shivered slightly, despite the warm spring air.

"My Lady, why did you leave? He loves you very much, and speaks of little else."

Kallian's eyes narrowed, and her face darkened.  "Why?! If you really don't know, as your dear brother!  He made it quite clear that Alistair need to keep better company than some common 'knife ear!' " Her face grew hot, she flushed from the roots of her hair to the base of her neck.  She knew that it wasn't Teagan's fault, but she couldn't stop herself.

Teagan flinched at the slur; he looked as if she had slapped him.

"I love him Teagan, more than my own life.  I was ready to die for him, for some reason I was spared.  It's been made perfectly clear that a common elf is not suitable for him.  I wish I could change that, but I can't.  Please take care of him Teagan.  Make sure whomever your brother picks for him treats him well.  I just want him to be happy."  She stopped, spoke once more, "Lets get out of here Lei."

Kallian turned and ran down the dark alley, Leliana finally spoke;

"Alistair isn't the only one who's been hurting Teagan."  She tore after Kallian, before the elf could get too far.

Teagan was frozen for a moment, absorbing what he had just heard.  This woman was truly much stronger than she had been given credit for.  "I promise Kallian…." He said aloud, even though she was long gone.

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By the time Leliana caught up with her, Kallian was surrounded by a group of thugs.  The largest of the men had her pinned against the wall, he had ripped her clothes, but she refused to stop struggling.  Leliana slipped into position to help her friend.  Unknown to the group something crept in the shadows, watching closely, and waiting to strike.  Kallian knew she had to get away from these men, and fast.  She weighed her options carefully.  Back at her fighting shape she could of taken them all out, before they even knew what hit them.   What was it that Morrigan said? Men were always willing to believe two things about women…  that she finds him attractive, oh and that she is helpless…  'I can use that.' She thought to herself.  She kept her hand behind her, grasping the dagger hidden under her cloak.  She was hoping she didn't have to use it.

"Well, what are you going to do, Knife Ear!  In case you can't count there's five of us, and only one of you." The leader sneered at her.  Quick as a flash she pulled her dagger and held it as his navel.  "Let me go, and I let you keep all your parts." She spat.

He backhanded her so hard she tasted blood.  "I wouldn't if I were you." Leliana stepped into view with her bow drawn, arrow aimed at his head.  The men laughed, "what two women? You'll have to do better than that sweetheart!"

A figure dropped into view, knocking one of the assailants out cold.  "Oh, they can my friend." The stranger snarled with a thick accent, twin sliver daggers poised to strike.  Kallian used the surprise to her advantage.  She gave him a swift kick to the groin, making him drop to the ground.  Leliana and the newcomer made quick work of the rest.

Kallian knelt by the leader, both daggers held at an x near his throat.  "I don't want to see you around here again, do I make myself clear?" she growled.  He gulped and nodded an affirmative.  "Good."

She sheathed her daggers, and turned to her companions.  "Lei…Thanks.  I may take you up on your advice after all."  She turned to the stranger, "thanks Zev.  It's good to see you again."  The blonde elf took her hand and kissed it.

"But of course Cara mia." He hesitated, "Dare I say, this may not be a good place for conversing?"

Leliana stowed her weapon.  "I agree, come I have a place."  The trio made off under cover of darkness.  All of them eager to be elsewhere.

Description
Chapter 4: As the crow flies

Kallian hadn't been entirely successful at hiding from Teagan, he had recognized her, and cornered her after she left the tavern.  "Kallian, wait." He grabbed her by the arm before she could get away
"I just want to talk to you." He relaxed his grip, and let his hand fall.

" I know you do Teagan.  I just wish the circumstances were better…" Kallian shivered slightly, despite the warm spring air.

"My Lady, why did you leave? He loves you very much, and speaks of little else."

Kallian's eyes narrowed, and her face darkened.  "Why?! If you really don't know, as your dear brother!  He made it quite clear that Alistair need to keep better company than some common 'knife ear!' " Her face grew hot, she flushed from the roots of her hair to the base of her neck.  She knew that it wasn't Teagan's fault, but she couldn't stop herself.

Teagan flinched at the slur; he looked as if she had slapped him.

"I love him Teagan, more than my own life.  I was ready to die for him, for some reason I was spared.  It's been made perfectly clear that a common elf is not suitable for him.  I wish I could change that, but I can't.  Please take care of him Teagan.  Make sure whomever your brother picks for him treats him well.  I just want him to be happy."  She stopped, spoke once more, "Lets get out of here Lei."

Kallian turned and ran down the dark alley, Leliana finally spoke;

"Alistair isn't the only one who's been hurting Teagan."  She tore after Kallian, before the elf could get too far.

Teagan was frozen for a moment, absorbing what he had just heard.  This woman was truly much stronger than she had been given credit for.  "I promise Kallian…." He said aloud, even though she was long gone.

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By the time Leliana caught up with her, Kallian was surrounded by a group of thugs.  The largest of the men had her pinned against the wall, he had ripped her clothes, but she refused to stop struggling.  Leliana slipped into position to help her friend.  Unknown to the group something crept in the shadows, watching closely, and waiting to strike.  Kallian knew she had to get away from these men, and fast.  She weighed her options carefully.  Back at her fighting shape she could of taken them all out, before they even knew what hit them.   What was it that Morrigan said? Men were always willing to believe two things about women…  that she finds him attractive, oh and that she is helpless…  'I can use that.' She thought to herself.  She kept her hand behind her, grasping the dagger hidden under her cloak.  She was hoping she didn't have to use it.

"Well, what are you going to do, Knife Ear!  In case you can't count there's five of us, and only one of you." The leader sneered at her.  Quick as a flash she pulled her dagger and held it as his navel.  "Let me go, and I let you keep all your parts." She spat.

He backhanded her so hard she tasted blood.  "I wouldn't if I were you." Leliana stepped into view with her bow drawn, arrow aimed at his head.  The men laughed, "what two women? You'll have to do better than that sweetheart!"

A figure dropped into view, knocking one of the assailants out cold.  "Oh, they can my friend." The stranger snarled with a thick accent, twin sliver daggers poised to strike.  Kallian used the surprise to her advantage.  She gave him a swift kick to the groin, making him drop to the ground.  Leliana and the newcomer made quick work of the rest.

Kallian knelt by the leader, both daggers held at an x near his throat.  "I don't want to see you around here again, do I make myself clear?" she growled.  He gulped and nodded an affirmative.  "Good."

She sheathed her daggers, and turned to her companions.  "Lei…Thanks.  I may take you up on your advice after all."  She turned to the stranger, "thanks Zev.  It's good to see you again."  The blonde elf took her hand and kissed it.

"But of course Cara mia." He hesitated, "Dare I say, this may not be a good place for conversing?"

Leliana stowed her weapon.  "I agree, come I have a place."  The trio made off under cover of darkness.  All of them eager to be elsewhere.